John Thomas McWilliams was born on 9 February 1925 to Gilbert McWilliams and Grace Jewell Bowman.
Killed in Action 11 August 1944
Private First Class
12th Infantry Regiment
PFC McWilliams was returned from Marzanello Nuovo, Italy. Buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery, Y, 402.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 11 April 1945
When the personal belongings of Pfc. John T. McWilliams, listed killed in action in the Normany campaign last Aug. 11, were sent home to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert McWilliams, of Soddy Star Route last week, they contained a hitherto unannounced citation for award of a Bronze Star Medal for courageous servivce during the French invasion. Pfc. McWilliams was with Company H, 12th Infantry Regiment, Fourth Division, and his commanding officer, Maj.-Gen. R.O. Barton, had stated: “During the action at Montebourg, France, June 13, 1944, a high piece of ground was captured and immediately counter-attacked by the enemy. Pvt. McWilliams, (his grade at that time) with complete disregard for his safety in the face of heavy small arms fire, placed a mortar in action in an exposed position, prepared and fired the mortar until the counter-attack had been successfully repulsed. Such devotion to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.”
Pfc. McWilliams was 19 years of age. He attended Flattop School until he enlisted in the army July 7, 1943. He was the brother of Misses Ola and Aileen McWilliams and Alton McWilliams.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 9 February 1925
- Date of death: 11 August 1944
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Flat Top
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Normandy
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar X, Bottom Panel
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